From Opus

Photo by Ayuwat J
Photo taken: Doi Inthanon, Chiangmai, Thailand

Alternative names: Brown Wren-Babbler; Lesser Scaly-breasted Wren-Babbler; Taiwan Wren-Babbler (formosana)

Pnoepyga pusilla

Includes: Taiwan Wren-Babbler

[edit] Identification

With 7.5 - 9cm a tiny, almost tailless Babbler with two morphs.
Pale morph:

• From crown to rump greyish olive-brown with dark scaling
• Head side greyish olive-brown too, ear-coverts with pale shaft streaks
• Chin and throat white with narrow scaling
• Breast and belly white with scaly effect

Dark morph:

• Darker olive brown above
• White below replaced with ochre

Can be confused with Scaly-breasted Wren-Babbler or Nepal Wren-Babbler where ranges overlap.

[edit] Distribution

	Found in SE-Asia. In the Himalayas from Nepal over Sikkim and Bhutan to NE India, including Hill States, Myanmar and to S China. Also on Taiwan, in Indochina, S Vietnam, S Thailand and the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Flores and West Timor Common in parts of its range.
	Legend • P. p. pusilla; year-round • P. p. annamensis; year-round • P. p. harterti; year-round • P. p. lepida; year-round • P. p. rufa; year-round • P. p. everetti; year-round • P. p. timorensis; year-round • P. p. formosana; year-round Maps/Texts consulted1,2

[edit] Taxonomy

Clements³ accepts eight subspecies:

• P. p. pusilla in the Himalayas, Myanmar, China and N Thailand
• P. p. annamensis in Cambodia and S Vietnam
• P. p. harterti in S. Thailand and on the Malay Peninsula
• P. p. lepida on Sumatra
• P. p. rufa on Java
• P. p. everetti on Flores
• P. p. timorensis on Timor
• P. p. formosana on Taiwan

The latest is also accepted as full species, Taiwan Wren-Babbler Pnoepygna formosana or alternatively placed in Scaly-breasted Wren-Babbler. The form of Timor may also merit full species status.¹

[edit] Habitat

Floor and understorey of broadleaf evergreen forest, mossy boulders, fallen logs, forest ravines, dense fern growth. Generally found between 200 and 3050m. Found in similar habitat like Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler but on lower altitudes.¹

[edit] Behaviour

More often heard than seen. Forages on the ground, sometimes up to 2m in trees, feeding on ants, other insects and spiders.
Breeding season differs through range, March to September in northern parts, July to May in Java, November to December in Sumatra. The nest is a ball of moss or a built-in structure made of long strands of green moss, the inner part formed to a cup. It's placed in moss, orchids, ferns or creepers hanging down from large trees, close to the ground. Lays 2 - 6 eggs.
Resident species with some local altitudinal movements.¹

[edit] References

1. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
2. Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
3. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist.

• List of references

[edit] External Links

• Arthur Grosset's Birds
• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages